Chapter 1: Ignition
Kennedy Space Center, Florida – Launch Day
The countdown echoed across the pad like thunder.
T-minus ten… nine… eight…
Dr. Eva Reyes stood in the observation bunker, heart pounding harder than the massive engines about to roar to life. She wasn’t supposed to be this nervous. She was the lead xenobiologist on the Ares-7 mission—the first crewed Mars landing in over a decade. Six months outbound, six months on the surface, six months home. Eighteen months total locked in a tin can with five other people.
One of whom was watching her right now.
Captain Jax Harlan, mission commander. Former Navy SEAL, built like he could bench-press the rocket itself. Dark hair, storm-gray eyes, and a jawline that had no business existing in zero gravity. He leaned against the railing beside her, arms crossed, that half-smirk playing on his lips.
“You ready for this, Doc?” His voice was low, meant only for her.
Eva forced a smile. “Born ready.”
Seven… six… five…
The truth? She’d been ready since the day they selected her. But she hadn’t been ready for him.
From the moment they’d started training together two years ago, something had sparked. Stolen glances in the simulator. Brushed hands during zero-G drills. Late-night talks in the quarantine facility that lasted way longer than they should have.
NASA had strict fraternization rules. They’d both ignored them. Carefully. Quietly.
Until three nights ago.
A goodbye that wasn’t supposed to mean anything. A hotel room near the Cape. Clothes hitting the floor faster than the rocket would leave the pad.
His mouth on her skin. Her nails down his back. The way he’d growled her name like it belonged to him.
They hadn’t spoken about it since. Professional. Always professional.
Four… three… two…
The main engines ignited. A blinding white plume erupted beneath the Ares-7 stack, and the entire structure lifted—slow at first, then faster, roaring into the Florida sky.
Eva watched the rocket climb, carrying everything she’d worked for. Carrying him.
And carrying the secret now burning between them.
Nine Months Later – Deep Space Transit, Approaching Mars Orbit
The habitat module was quiet except for the constant hum of life support.
Eva floated in the science bay, reviewing the latest surface scans. The landing site looked perfect: an ancient crater basin with exposed sedimentary layers. If there had ever been life on Mars, evidence would be there.
The hatch behind her slid open.
She didn’t need to turn to know who it was. His scent—clean sweat, metal, and something uniquely Jax—always reached her first.
“Thought I’d find you here,” he said, voice rough from sleep cycle.
“Someone has to prep the sample kits.” She kept her eyes on the screen.
He drifted closer, stopping just behind her. Close enough that she could feel the heat radiating off his body in the recycled air.
“Eva.”
One word. Her name. Said like that, it undid her every time.
She turned. His eyes were darker than usual, pupils wide in the dim lighting. He hadn’t shaved in days—mission protocol allowed it now that they were far from Earth cameras.
“We said we wouldn’t do this out here,” she whispered.
“I know what we said.” He reached out, fingers brushing her wrist. “But we’re three weeks from touchdown. And I can’t stop thinking about you.”
Her breath caught. The ship’s cameras were everywhere. But not here. Not in this corner of the lab.
“Jax…”
He pulled her gently, slowly, until she floated into him. His hand slid to the small of her back, anchoring her against his chest.
“Just once,” he murmured against her ear. “Before everything changes down there.”
She should have said no.
Instead, she kissed him.
Hard. Hungry. Like they’d been starving for nine months.
His hands were in her hair, then lower, gripping her hips. Zero gravity made everything weightless—except the heat building between them.
He backed her against the bulkhead, mouth trailing down her neck. She arched into him, fingers digging into his shoulders.
They’d done this before. But never like this. Never with Mars growing larger in the viewport behind them, red and ancient and waiting.
“We shouldn’t—” she gasped as his hand slipped under her shirt.
“We already are,” he growled.
Clothes peeled away in the low light. Skin on skin. Breath mingling.
He entered her slowly, eyes locked on hers, and Eva forgot about rules. Forgot about cameras. Forgot about everything except the man claiming her in the silence of space.
Afterward, they floated tangled together, hearts racing in sync.
Jax pressed his forehead to hers. “Whatever we find down there… we face it together.”
Eva nodded, still catching her breath.
She had no idea how prophetic those words would become.
Because in three weeks, they’d touch down in that ancient crater.
And beneath the red dust, something ancient was waiting.
Something that would change them both forever.
